Bike Boulevards

What are the benefits of bike boulevards?

Traffic calming reduces speeding, which improves safety for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers alike. Drivers traveling slowly are less likely to hit people, objects or other cars. When they do crash, the damage and injuries are less severe. Some treatments on bike boulevards also make streets better for people walking. For example, curb extensions shorten the distance pedestrians have to walk in front of cars (and bikes) to cross the street.

Fewer cars and slower traffic also create quieter, calmer neighborhood streets for people who live along bike boulevards. Residents can enjoy sitting on their porch and feel more comfortable letting their kids play in the front yard. 

Encouraging more people to bike has significant health benefits. Incorporating exercise into a regular routine not only helps people lose weight but also improves cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of diabetes.

More people biking instead of driving reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality. Driving has huge environmental impacts in the United States—the transportation sector is responsible for 27% of all greenhouse gas emissions, or about 1,800,000,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Better air quality also reduces the risk of asthma attacks and other lung-related health issues.

  An intersection of a bike boulevard with sharrows, curb extensions, and high visibility crosswalks.     An intersection with high visibility crosswalks

Bike Boulevards in Milwaukee 

The first bike boulevards were installed in Milwaukee on Fratney and Wright streets in Riverwest and Harambee in 2020.

 Map of Fratney and Wright Bike Boulevard 

DPW is currently planning bike boulevards on Washington and Scott streets on the near south side. Learn more on the project website.

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